News - June 2019 RSS Feed

Port Arthur – After serving the Port Arthur community for more than 89 years, Christus St. Mary Hospital has built not only a long, rich history in the community, but has also accumulated numerous memories, artifacts, plaques, mementos and more both inside and outside of the hospital’s walls.

WASHINGTON—The cry of a father and his baby daughter who drowned crossing the Rio Grande reaches heaven itself. This unspeakable consequence of a failed immigration system, together with growing reports of inhumane conditions for children in the custody of the federal government at the border, shock the conscience and demand immediate action.

June 22 was a day of celebration as Father Anthony McFarland was ordained to the priesthood at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont. “From the beginning, Almighty God has called men and women to continue his mission,” Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said at the ordination of Father McFarland.

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a 7-2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of preserving a historic cross-shaped memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland saying the cross did not endorse religion.

Hundreds gathered for Mass at Cristo Rey Church and then for dinner to help Father Luis Urriza, OSA, celebrate his 75th anniversary of his ordination. In his comments, Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, thanked Father Luis for his many years of ministry in Southeast Texas adding that Father Luis has inspired and motivated many people throughout his years of ministry.

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church must find ways to reach indigenous Catholics deprived of the sacraments in the most remote areas of the Amazon rainforest, and that may include ordaining married elders, said the working document for the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.

Youth and parishioners arrived in Houston excited to participate in the activities during the 2019 Diocesan Youth Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The activities included a mixer, talent show, awards banquet, workshops and keynote presentations.

By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) — While the sex abuse crisis consumed the June meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, prelates who work on the border, such as Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, have been facing a different crisis also involving children.

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic schools must help parents teach young people that biological sex and gender are naturally fixed at birth and part of God’s plan for creation, said the Congregation for Catholic Education.

By Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) — During the June 11-13 spring assembly of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore, it was clear the bishops had to respond to the sexual abuse crisis in the church — and on the last day of their gathering they approved a series of procedures to begin this process.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of Father Augustus Tolton, who was the first African American diocesan priest in the United States and founder of the first black Catholic parish in Chicago.

By Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) — Although the U.S. bishops’ spring assembly in Baltimore was mostly devoted to responding to the sexual abuse crisis in the church, the bishops also considered something described as the second-most important issue currently facing U.S. church leaders: How to get religiously unaffiliated, or “nones,” particularly young people, back to the Catholic Church.

By Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) — The U.S. bishops are scheduled to vote on a plan to implement the “motu proprio” “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) issued in May by Pope Francis to help the Catholic Church safeguard its members from abuse and hold its leaders accountable.

“Twenty-five years? No. I can’t tell you how many years it has seemed like. It goes by so fast,” Father John Hughes said during Mass June 8 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Nederland, celebrating his 25 years of serving the faithful as a priest.

The Diocese of Beaumont’s Stewardship & Communications staff brought home first-place honors for its 2016-17 “Together Under His Guidance” annual report June 7 at the Press Club of Southeast Texas Excellence in Media Awards banquet.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — People need to walk together in harmony to build a more fraternal world, Pope Francis said, reflecting upon his recent trip to Romania. The May 31-June 2 trip showed the important need “to walk together, both for Christians” when it comes to faith and charity, and for residents of a nation, when it comes to civic engagement, he said June 5 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur will close in 45 days, Christus Southeast Texas Health System announced Monday. Christus Southeast Texas will shift services from its St. Mary campus to its Christus Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid County, also located in Port Arthur.